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Drina #1
Ballet for Drina
A young girl struggles to get dancing lessons despite her grandmother's strong disapproval.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1957
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707 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
March 14, 2010
I received this book from my cousin when I was quite young, perhaps about 8 or 9. I'm not sure how many times I read it as a child, but it was a favorite. I loved the illustration on the cover- the edition I had as a child was the Scholastic edition with the pink cover.
A few years ago, I was poking around online and found out that there were five books in this series. I tracked down #2 and #5, though I was unable to find the others.
Then, on Goodreads, I saw someone's review that mentioned that there are 11 Drina books, all written in the early 60s. I just bought the full set on eBay and my 9 day stay at home with illness has been much improved with these books.
I love seeing the charming illustrations, the very same ones I loved as a little girl. Like Drina, I also had a dancer for a parent. I never considered ballet as a career, but it was a large part of my childhood and I love reliving it with these books.
A few years ago, I was poking around online and found out that there were five books in this series. I tracked down #2 and #5, though I was unable to find the others.
Then, on Goodreads, I saw someone's review that mentioned that there are 11 Drina books, all written in the early 60s. I just bought the full set on eBay and my 9 day stay at home with illness has been much improved with these books.
I love seeing the charming illustrations, the very same ones I loved as a little girl. Like Drina, I also had a dancer for a parent. I never considered ballet as a career, but it was a large part of my childhood and I love reliving it with these books.
May 14, 2009
I can't describe how much I adored this series as a child. Or how often I already read it.
I am so not a dancer but those books are just so well written, it just pulls you into the whole story. And you can't stop until you've finished. Wonderful.
I really miss those days when I was a child, reading those books.
Seriously, it is sad that nobody today reads books like these. OK, now I feel old, but whatever... ;)
I am so not a dancer but those books are just so well written, it just pulls you into the whole story. And you can't stop until you've finished. Wonderful.
I really miss those days when I was a child, reading those books.
Seriously, it is sad that nobody today reads books like these. OK, now I feel old, but whatever... ;)
April 29, 2009
Not the best of the lot, but a decent introduction to the series. As with many heroines in ballet stories, Drina wants to dance but can't - her grandparents forbid it. As there are ten more books in the series, you can guess that she does eventually get her way. ;)
May 10, 2024
I loved this series as a child and recently discovered that they went all the way to #11!
See my review under the final volume, Drina Ballerina.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
See my review under the final volume, Drina Ballerina.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
March 9, 2020
In the first installment in the series, Ballet for Drina, the reader is introduced to Drina, a little girl who lives with her grandparents, Mr and Mrs Chester, following the death of her mother and father when she was very young. She loves to dance but has never been allowed to take lessons and her grandmother refuses to discuss why. When Drina changes schools she makes friends with Jenny Pilgrim, who hates dancing and wants to work on a farm but whose mother insists she take ballet classes. Eventually Mrs Chester bows to pressure and allows Drina to join in, until Mr Chester’s job takes the family away from Warwickshire and the ballet school that Drina loves to live in London.
This book was exactly how I remember it from when I was little: simple and uncomplicated but sweet and charming. Reading as an adult there is never any real tension or suspense as it is abundantly clear how things are going to pan out from the very beginning, but I remember feeling every one of Drina’s emotions as she suffers the agonies of not knowing whether she will be able to continue with her beloved dancing classes. It evokes the strong feelings of childhood, in which everything is either the best thing ever or the end of the world, very well, but does not do so in a reflective way which might broaden its appeal to adults as well. Ballet for Drina is unashamedly a children’s book.
I’m not sure how much of my enjoyment of this book is due to happy memories of having read it as a child, but it remains an absorbing way to pass an hour. Sometimes it is nice to read a gentle, relaxing book in which there are no real surprises and everything works out for the best.
This book was exactly how I remember it from when I was little: simple and uncomplicated but sweet and charming. Reading as an adult there is never any real tension or suspense as it is abundantly clear how things are going to pan out from the very beginning, but I remember feeling every one of Drina’s emotions as she suffers the agonies of not knowing whether she will be able to continue with her beloved dancing classes. It evokes the strong feelings of childhood, in which everything is either the best thing ever or the end of the world, very well, but does not do so in a reflective way which might broaden its appeal to adults as well. Ballet for Drina is unashamedly a children’s book.
I’m not sure how much of my enjoyment of this book is due to happy memories of having read it as a child, but it remains an absorbing way to pass an hour. Sometimes it is nice to read a gentle, relaxing book in which there are no real surprises and everything works out for the best.
February 3, 2012
The whole Drina series is amazing. My mom read all of them to me when I was little, and I still read them to this day. Be forewarned though, they are all out of print, so they will be quite expensive to find, more than likely. The Drina series is the story of a young girl wanting nothing more than to be a ballerina, and how she goes about getting there. It keeps your interest and appeals to many boys as much as girls. I will definitely be reading these books to my children.
February 22, 2012
Not as good as the Shoes books, but still really satisfying for my inner ten year old balletomane.
August 23, 2015
Re-read, love those books!
November 5, 2021
5*s on behalf of the 8 year old me!
March 12, 2025
This is a good opener to a brilliant series about Drina Adams and her dancing. It starts from when she is 5 and her grandmother catches her dancing in the living room. It then fast forwards to Drina's first day at her new school in Warwickshire where she meets Jenny Pilgrim. Jenny and Drina are very different but make good friends and Jenny proves to be a useful ally when Drina wants to dance as she is forced to dance by her mum at The Selswick School. Drina has to hide this from her grandmother for a bit as she has worked out that her grandmother doesn't want her to dance even though she has no idea why.
Eventually Drina and her grandparents move away to London for her grandfather's job and she has to deal with living away from Jenny and her dance school. She secretly keeps practising then meets a former dancer Adele Whiteway who becomes a useful ally.
A brilliant start to the series and perfect for anyone who loves ballet.
Eventually Drina and her grandparents move away to London for her grandfather's job and she has to deal with living away from Jenny and her dance school. She secretly keeps practising then meets a former dancer Adele Whiteway who becomes a useful ally.
A brilliant start to the series and perfect for anyone who loves ballet.
January 22, 2013
I've decided 2013 is going to be a heavy re-reading year, and I'm starting with this amazing series. It was one of my favorites growing up, and I have to say the writing actually does stand the test of time. This is even more impressive than normal, considered it was written in the 1950s! Drina reminds me so much of myself - very passionate, intensely focused to the point of obsessiveness, and prone to anxiety before important activities - and these traits allowed me to bond with her intensely as a child. I can already see that re-reading these books are going to be bringing back some wonderful memories.
March 28, 2015
This is one of the books that got me into dancing ballet when I was eleven years old. Although I don't dance anymore, the story about this girl, embarking on a journey to become a ballet dancer and pursuing her dream to perform on big stages, empowered me and made me reflect more on what my passion was.
This is a book that I would recommend, not just to girls, who are into dancing, but also to any girl, who likes reading books.
This is a book that I would recommend, not just to girls, who are into dancing, but also to any girl, who likes reading books.
June 5, 2025
I have had this book since I was a child. The world of dance is so tough but Drina had dreams! And wow! Loved the ending and the truth that came out about her mother!
December 20, 2020
I first read the Drina series many moons ago and didn't really think that much of them. Though I devoured titles by people like Noel Streatfeild and Lorna Hill, the Drina books always felt a little bit more pedestrian to me. They were pleasant pedestrian, if such a thing could be, but they were definitely pedestrian. Enjoyable to read, but when you were done, you were done.
Ballet For Drina, plus a handful of other titles from the series, recently surfaced in a nearby shop to me and I picked them up - partially to see if I still thought they were pedestrian, but also to simply read something pleasant. Something simple. If ever a year demands such books to have their time, it is this. And so Ballet for Drina, Drina Dances in Switzerland (you know you're in a classic kid's series when you get to Switzerland my friends), and Drina Goes on Tour made their way home with me.
And yes, Ballet For Drina still had that slightly pedestrian edge to it, but it also had something rather wonderful and that was the bones of a very classic ballet story. Girl discovers talent, works at it, deals with problems in her way, becomes good. It won't reinvent the wheel by any means, but it does what it does in a real solid and rather satisfying fashion. I also found it pleasing that the difficulty of this path is emphasised: being a ballerina is not easy and requires sacrifice from all concerned. Yes, some of the moments are Slightly Ridiculous, but all good classic children's lit has that mildly ridiculous edge. We allow it because we believe in the world, and the world of Drina - even though it's full of balletomanes on every corner and she goes to dos wearing a little white dress with a scarlet capes (ugh, I love it) - is believable. It really is.
There's a lot here to love; it has that Blytonian quality of being almost grimly readable and accessible, and I think the earlier books where Drina is young, could still provide a lot of appeal for contemporary young readers. And that's because, in many ways, this is still a stone cold classic piece of children's literature.
Ballet For Drina, plus a handful of other titles from the series, recently surfaced in a nearby shop to me and I picked them up - partially to see if I still thought they were pedestrian, but also to simply read something pleasant. Something simple. If ever a year demands such books to have their time, it is this. And so Ballet for Drina, Drina Dances in Switzerland (you know you're in a classic kid's series when you get to Switzerland my friends), and Drina Goes on Tour made their way home with me.
And yes, Ballet For Drina still had that slightly pedestrian edge to it, but it also had something rather wonderful and that was the bones of a very classic ballet story. Girl discovers talent, works at it, deals with problems in her way, becomes good. It won't reinvent the wheel by any means, but it does what it does in a real solid and rather satisfying fashion. I also found it pleasing that the difficulty of this path is emphasised: being a ballerina is not easy and requires sacrifice from all concerned. Yes, some of the moments are Slightly Ridiculous, but all good classic children's lit has that mildly ridiculous edge. We allow it because we believe in the world, and the world of Drina - even though it's full of balletomanes on every corner and she goes to dos wearing a little white dress with a scarlet capes (ugh, I love it) - is believable. It really is.
There's a lot here to love; it has that Blytonian quality of being almost grimly readable and accessible, and I think the earlier books where Drina is young, could still provide a lot of appeal for contemporary young readers. And that's because, in many ways, this is still a stone cold classic piece of children's literature.
November 2, 2022
Good book for young readers who enjoy reading about dance and ballerinas.
Drina is cute, and she wants very much to be a ballerina, no matter what it takes. She works hard, even when her grandparents forbid her from dancing.
In the book, Drina and her best friend, Jenny, discuss the fact that most books about ballerinas make it seem like ballet talent comes easy, but that that's a wrong portrayal. I think this book tries to get at the other side, showing Drina working hard in her classes, suffering setbacks, and continuing her practices at home when her grandmother takes her out of her lessons.
This would probably be a book I reread if I'd read it when I was younger. Actually, there's a good chance that I'll still reread it :)
Drina is cute, and she wants very much to be a ballerina, no matter what it takes. She works hard, even when her grandparents forbid her from dancing.
In the book, Drina and her best friend, Jenny, discuss the fact that most books about ballerinas make it seem like ballet talent comes easy, but that that's a wrong portrayal. I think this book tries to get at the other side, showing Drina working hard in her classes, suffering setbacks, and continuing her practices at home when her grandmother takes her out of her lessons.
This would probably be a book I reread if I'd read it when I was younger. Actually, there's a good chance that I'll still reread it :)
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August 26, 2009This is teenage to young adult fiction as it is most heartwarming. For all aspiring ballerina's as well as those who are not. This story follows the life of Drina as she finds ballet after her parents die in an accident. It is a beautiful story and relays the insecurities of adolescence as well as the beauty and freedom. It really is a treasure and a shame that it is not reissued to the pleasure of future generations. If you manage to get a copy of the series then it is a worth while and timeless read. In today's world of fantasy and science fiction this series is a reminder that there is an excitement in real world professions and that love and hard work are the essence of success. Truly inspirational.
October 15, 2009
First entry in a delightful series (now sadly out of print) about Drina Adams, a young girl growing up with her grandparents in tiny Willerbury, UK. Through her friend Jenny Pilgrim she unexpectedly finds she is irresistably drawn to learn ballet, but her Grandmother firmly refuses to allow it. Through secrecy and determination, Drina learns to dance despite her Grandmother's hostility, and eventually discovers the stunning reason for it. Charming book, although the minor characters are more convincingly written than Drina is. Estoril is one of several pen names for Mabel Esther Allan.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2014
This series was my absolute favorite when I was growing up (and truthfully, still is). I re-read it every few years and enjoy it each time. It's like a cozy sweater... comforting, reliable, enjoyable. These books are what sparked my interest in travel (ok, European travel), and I fully plan on naming my daughter (if I ever have one) either Andrina, Audrina or anything with the nickname "Drina" and hope she will be a ballerina, who is as kind aND intelligent as the heroine of these books. I even made my friends read these books, haha. 5th grade me, pushing these books onto my friends...
April 16, 2009
I wasn't a dancer when I was younger (much too uncoordinated for ballet lessons), but I loved the covers of these books and bought them all to read. I recall having a somewhat difficult time reading them (written in British English, so weird spelling, punctuation, and phrasing) but overall a good kids story.
Some of the alternate titles I found while looking this book up were interesting, especially the one where Drina's name had been changed to Cindy.
Some of the alternate titles I found while looking this book up were interesting, especially the one where Drina's name had been changed to Cindy.
February 1, 2026
Any story that is based on a child who has a passion for something is a worthy read. A child with a passion is not likely to be bored or to get into serious trouble. Any girl who has a passion for something that requires setting goals and serious work, will be able to identify with Drina.
I read this many years ago, yet I remember the story ... I think it's because I own the book and seeing it on my shelf keeps the memory alive.
January 3, 2016
Ich hatte als Kind auch eine Ballettphase, wenn auch nur über Bücher ;) die Cindy-Bücher fand ich damals alle super und hab mir eines nach dem anderen von der Omi schenken lassen oder selbst vom Taschengeld gekauft.
Gerade habe ich gesehen, dass sie im Englischen "Drina" heisst ... wer kommt bitteschön auf die Idee, jemand von Drina nach Cindy zu übersetzen für den deutschen Buchmarkt? Wieso nicht gleich Steffi oder Lisa? ^^
Gerade habe ich gesehen, dass sie im Englischen "Drina" heisst ... wer kommt bitteschön auf die Idee, jemand von Drina nach Cindy zu übersetzen für den deutschen Buchmarkt? Wieso nicht gleich Steffi oder Lisa? ^^
January 3, 2016
Ich hatte als Kind auch eine Ballettphase, wenn auch nur über Bücher ;) die Cindy-Bücher fand ich damals alle super und hab mir eines nach dem anderen von der Omi schenken lassen oder selbst vom Taschengeld gekauft. Ich fand auch alle Cover so toll, ich hab die immer bewundert.
Gerade habe ich gesehen, dass sie im Englischen "Drina" heisst ... wer kommt bitteschön auf die Idee, jemand von Drina nach Cindy zu übersetzen für den deutschen Buchmarkt? Wieso nicht gleich Steffi oder Lisa? ^^
Gerade habe ich gesehen, dass sie im Englischen "Drina" heisst ... wer kommt bitteschön auf die Idee, jemand von Drina nach Cindy zu übersetzen für den deutschen Buchmarkt? Wieso nicht gleich Steffi oder Lisa? ^^
September 20, 2016
The first in a most captivating series of books for those who love ballet, particularly girls aged 10 - 12 years. I have such fond memories of the reading experience: eagerly going to the library in anticipation of the next one being on the shelf, finding a quiet place to read where I would be undisturbed as I was drawn into the story, full of emotional warmth and beautifully written and illustrated. You just wanted to be Drina's best friend. Very moving, I think.
October 25, 2011
i enjoy this book enjoy reading this book cause its about dancing and ballerina
Drina is her name and she is sooo cute she loves ballet and she will never stop loving it.her grandparents dont want her to dance but shell never stop..she works very hard in her classes and extra hard on her ballet lessons
Drina is her name and she is sooo cute she loves ballet and she will never stop loving it.her grandparents dont want her to dance but shell never stop..she works very hard in her classes and extra hard on her ballet lessons
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2007
I loved Drina's world as a little girl. She showed me around London before I had ever been there for myself! Definitely one to give to the nieces, should they decide to become ballerinas. The entire series is worth paying a visit.
August 2, 2008
Drina does not have as much personality as most of MAE's characters but this series is a must for fans of ballet books.
September 25, 2024
My favourite ballet series as a kid.
February 21, 2014
I loved this series as a child and remember being so excited whenever I found another Drina book on our mobile library, until I got my own set. Re-reading the first in the series was a treat.
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April 22, 2015WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR COMFORT BOOKS?
IL THOSE BOOKS SO MUCH, MEMER. SO MUCH. I AM COMPLETELY SHAMELESS ABOUT MY LOVE FOR THEM.
IL THOSE BOOKS SO MUCH, MEMER. SO MUCH. I AM COMPLETELY SHAMELESS ABOUT MY LOVE FOR THEM.
May 14, 2015
I loved this book as a teen. I bought the first three books at Kmart one summer while at our cottage. I fell in love with the story. It is a sweet, charming book and I enjoyed re reading it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews